updated 04:20 pm EDT, Thu September 4, 2008

BBerry Storm Delayed

Technical problems could keep the BlackBerry Storm from a crucial ship date with Verizon, a tip delivered to BGR says. Although multiple past leaks had penned RIM's first touchscreen BlackBerry for an October launch, software problems have meant the device is only now entering the technical acceptance stage that approves phones for use on Verizon's network and should spend between three to four weeks in testing before it can be sold, pushing it into mid-November.

The delay is potentially damaging to Verizon, which is known to be counting on the CDMA/GSM hybrid phone to boost its holiday sales and fend off competition from AT&T's BlackBerry Bold and iPhone 3G, which will respectively compete against the Storm in business and home user sales. Verizon's touchscreen-centric devices until now have almost exclusively been home-friendly devices such as the LG Dare and Samsung Glyde.

A separate tip accompanying the claim asserts that the carrier has stepped up the marketing budget for the Storm with an emphasis on fighting off the Bold, which itself has been delayed past much of its original summer launch window target.